Amid all the anxiety over a recent story suggesting AEG's Farmers Field project was declared clinically dead by the National Football League, it's worth noting a handful of NFL teams remain in shaky stadium situations.

In other words, while the NFL might not like the deal structure AEG is pushing to teams contemplating relocation, the fact remains with some clubs lacking public support and assistance to build new stadiums it seems inevitable one or two of them will eventually take a long, hard look at Los Angeles.

A recent development in St. Louis may have vaulted an old friend to the top of the list of teams L.A. may soon begin courting - if that process hasn't already begun.

When St. Louis was paving the path of gold that lured the Rams from Los Angeles to the Gateway City, a momentary lapse in judgment might have insured their Midwest stay would be relatively short.

In 1995, the Rams brilliantly negotiated a clause in their lease with the Edward Jones Dome stipulating the stadium must be among the top 25 percent of NFL stadiums by 2015. If not, the Rams would be free to opt out of their lease and look for a new home.

At the time 2015 seemed a long way off, and in their haste to deliver the NFL back to St. Louis city officials naively agreed to the stipulation.

Lo and behold 2015 is right around the corner, and in the meantime a number of sparkling new stadiums have opened throughout the NFL, raising the bar considerably and putting the city of St. Louis in a precarious position.

The St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, which runs the Edward Jones Dome, concedes improvements are needed but estimates the cost falls in the $140 million range.

The Rams, meanwhile, insist it's more like $600 million.

That's a pretty significant disagreement, and with both sides digging in, an arbitrator was required.

This is where it gets really interesting.

The arbitrator recently ruled in favor of the Rams, essentially delivering a death blow to their long-range future at the Edward Jones Dome and perhaps St. Louis all together.

The CVC essentially has another month to decide whether to comply with the ruling, but all indications point to an inability or unwillingness to foot that kind of bill.

Long story short, it seems likely the Rams will hit free agency by the end of the 2014 season and the possibility of them returning to Los Angeles rises from long shot to favorites.

St. Louis officials are trying to put a positive spin on the ruling, pointing out the Rams are in place for at least two more years and by taking the Edward Jones Dome out of the picture it could lead to a new stadium in a different location.

That's possible, but with the cost of stadiums exceeding $1 billion and the economy still shaky, does St. Louis have the appetite to spend that kind of money to build the Rams a new home?

Considering the lack of action in San Diego and Oakland, where the Chargers and Raiders have been fighting long and hard for public assistance to build new stadiums, it seems dubious the Rams and St. Louis will magically come together on a deal.

Not ruling it out, but conventional wisdom suggests it's unlikely.

Meanwhile, a privately financed stadium is perched to be built adjacent to Staples Center, the only holdup at this point finding team to play there.

The Los Angeles Rams, Part II?

Stranger things have happened.

Here is a quick update on the other potential NFL targets:

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

The next week could be crucial to the Chargers, who have their eye on two stadium plans near the San Diego Convention Center.

The first involves expanding the convention center and building a new stadium nearby, but lawsuits challenging the legality of hotel room-rate surcharges that would generate $520 million to expand the convention center could derail it.

In essence, critics insist the surcharges are unlawful taxes and will begin presenting their case next week in court.

If the courts agree - and even if not - the Chargers are prepared to present an alternative plan for a multi-use stadium with a retractable roof in the East Village area, a few blocks away from the convention center.

Part of the financing would be generated though a sale of the city-owned Qualcomm Stadium - the Chargers' current home - and the San Diego Sports Arena, now called Valley View Casino Center.

The problem is they are running out of time getting a new proposal on the November ballot, which means it might be another year before state legislators can get their hands on it.

With the Chargers owning an annual buyout on their lease with Qualcomm, you wonder when they finally run out of patience after more than a decade fighting for a new stadium.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The Jaguars seem a likely candidate for relocation considering the lack of local support and their constant struggles selling out EverBank Field.

But they are strapped in a lease that runs through 2027, and it's considered one of the more difficult to wiggle out of.

To do so, the club would have to prove sustained financial losses in court, then buy out of the lease. That might be difficult considering how profitable NFL teams are, even with slow ticket sales.

Still, Jacksonville always seemed an odd fit for the NFL given its thinly populated region, and with the second-biggest TV market available to add a team, Jaguars owner Shahid Khan might soon be tempted to finagle his way out of north Florida.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

The Raiders' lease at O.co Coliseum expires after this season, but they seem determined to remain in the area and are in talks with city and county officials about building a new stadium on their current site.